Islak Köpek

Islak Köpek was a free-improvisation ensemble based in Istanbul, Turkey. It was active between 2005 - 2013 and managed to place Free Improvisation on the Turkish experimental music chart. It played in the Akbank Jazz Festival twice (2006 and 2012) and released two physical and one digital album in 2006, 2009 and 2011. The band got together for two concerts in Istanbul and Berlin to celebrate their 10th anniversary. ------- Islak Köpek’s original lineup of Korhan Erel, Sevket Akinci, Volkan Terzioglu and Volkan Ergen had their first performance in the summer of 2005. Following a series of performances at Galata Perform and Jazz Cafe in Istanbul, Dirk Stromberg and Robert Reigle joined the band in January 2006. The six-piece band played regular performances at Galata Perform as well as other venues. Volkan Ergen left in the summer of 2006 to pursue other musical interests. The five-piece band played at Transit Improvisation Days Istanbul 2006 with Le Quan Ninh, Kirstie Simpson, Talin Buyukkurciyan, and Yanaël Plummet and then again in 2007, a sold-out concert at the Akbank Jazz Festivalin September 2006, at the A.M.B.E.R. Body-Process Arts Festival in 2007 (www.a-m-b-e-r.net), The Triangle Project (a side project of the 10th Istanbul Biennial in 2007). Dirk Stromberg had to take a leave from the band to pursue his teaching career outside Turkey. Islak Köpek have released their first, self-titled album in November 2008 on the Turkish label “AK Müzik” - featuring all six current and former members. Dilek Acay had to leave the band to study in Weimar, Germany. She continues to play with them when she's in Istanbul. Cellist Kevin William Davis joined the band in 2009. Islak Köpek released their second album, 'One Year Later, Two Years Ago' on Turkish free music netlabel Re:konstrukt (www.rekonstrukt.com). The band members have been doing a show on free improvisation and free jazz called “The Other Jazz” on Acik Radyo (FM 94.9) since May 2006. Islak Köpek's music has been recently featured in the Boris Vian play 'Empire Builders' staged by the State Theater of Istanbul (directed by Hakan Çimenser). Islak Köpek's debut album has recently been listed in the top 25 albums of 2009 by Turkish monthly Express magazine. The band members have also had performances in different combinations or with other musicians in Turkey, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, the UK. Islak Köpek members: Sevket Akinci: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Effects Korhan Erel: Computer, Electronics, Melodica, Cracklebox Gülşah Erol: Cello Giray Gürkal: Electric Guitar, Effects Robert Reigle: Tenor saxophone Volkan Terzioglu: Tenor and Sopranino saxophone Free Improvisation band based in Istanbul, Turkey